Short Summary

SYNOPSIS: His Majesty, the King of Thailand has visited Sun Kamphaeng cooperative village project which is located 30 km east of Chiengmai, which project is conceived by HM the king.

Description

SYNOPSIS: His Majesty, the King of Thailand has visited Sun Kamphaeng cooperative village project which is located 30 km east of Chiengmai, which project is conceived by HM the king. While the King is staying at Buping Palace on the top of 4,500 ft sealevel in Chiengmai during his holidays, he has visited various villages in this area almost every day until after sunset.

75-80% of total Thailand population are peasants and among them around 40% of peasants do not have landed property of their own to earn their livelihood. These people have to rent the land of others and move from place to place, having no permanent domicile.

The living condition, the joy and sorrow, of the poor peasants have always been a major concern of HM the King. it has been his desire to plan and complete development project and to have the land utilized for the benefit of the peasants. Four projects have been implemented since 1964, besides this Sun Kamphaeng project.

In Dec. 1975, the project on cooperative village of Sun Kamphaeng which covers 4,000 acres with 700 families' settling at 5 villages become action in its implementation. 150 families were accommodated at each village. Each family is allotted 3.2 or 4 acres of arable land plus housing site. In addition, each village is provided with a common central??? plot of 120-200 acres for agriculture and livestock raising. This site includes the sites of warehouse, shops and stores, central markets and village central office.

The peasants those who have no their own land or have too small plots of around to earn living on in eight northern Thailand provinces are admitted to settle in this project after they attended three months training.

Various government organizations and farmers who take part in this project by constructing road, irrigation dam, warehouse, school, water supplies; by financing fund, by supporting sanitary and hygienic aid, by offering labour powers, demonstrated harmonious cooperation and mutual love towards the goal of self-reliance.

Besides government organizations with peasants, banks, juristic persons, wealthy persons participated to this project by financing or donating cash or land. Sumitomo Co. of Japan donated US 2,200 worth of movile rice polishing unit, on the other hand, Cherwell valley silos Ltd. of England presented US $9,000 worth of grain storage silo when HM the king visited this project.

King emphasized more construction of irrigation system, cultivating upland rice by evacuating people from low land to hilly area for raising livestocks at plain area for reserving fertility of land and high productivity of each farmer. As existing irrigation dams cover only 30% of arable land, king surveyed site of irrigation dam for more construction.

While king visits this project, relation between government and peasants gets closer, and high ranking officials understand more things to be solved. King of Thailand is not only symbolic presence of this country but also center of unity and development of Thailand.

If this kind of projects spread to all over Thailand, assurance of prosperity can be secured and a firm foundation will be laid for Thai economy and national security.